Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

Has anything been seen of the big Taiwanese diesel?
Pat

 

I wondered that too recently and went looking, the most recent I could find was a youtube video from May 2024 of it running in apparent passenger service, but could well have been a populated test run?

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Taiwanese DL-34 - 4th May 2024

Other than that, there's a video of it static in the shed Christmas of 2025

【British Narrow Gauge Railways】Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, DL-34 in The Shed

 

A replacement torque converter from another one of the class was being shipped from Taiwan. I don't know what the timescale for installing it, but the loan has been extended, I think for another 3 years after it enters service.

 

Looking forward to the W and L Gala this weekend with accomodation booked.

Is there any intel people may have as to the train plan, is it steam with a diesel pilot please? Or has weather of the past week created headroom for all steam services to operate?

I've emailed the railway but nothing back yet on the Traction front for this weekends gala. Any info appreciated, before I commit to buying a long distance train ticket to get to Welshpool, plus the gala ticket.

Whilst I totally understand measures necessary in connection with staff wellbeing and fire risk during the hot weather of July and August, I would only want to visit the W and L with steam haulage and would defer a visit to the Autumn if that's not the plan.

TIA.

 

They've said on Facebook that timetables will be released week commencing 31st August, once they've made a decision about whether it'll be steam or diesel. The Wasp is booked to be out as well for the first time in a quite a while.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/186F9xxYTz/

'WASP' RAILCAR RIDES @GALA - Did you identify our teaser handbrake wheel?

Ex MOD railcar the 'Wasp' will be running regular trips between Llanfair and Castle. Experience our line from a different perspective!

Limited to 10 passengers per trip. Timed tickets must be obtained from Llanfair Booking Office on the day. Trips included Free with Gala Day Tickets, but donations welcome.

⭐Download the Gala Information Booklet from our Event Page.

Join us 4-6 Sept! Click this link to pre-book your tickets now: https://wllr.org.uk/events/steam-gala/

⏰Train Timetables to be confirmed week commencing 31st, when we have risk assessed steam operations alongside forecast weather and Government wildfire guidance.

 

https://wllr.org.uk/wp-content/uplo...nS5PPo1_UYIkfuflhC_aem_NY5cZBZkvBnZ-x6GlS1Z6w

Gala brochure.

Edit - timetables now available.

https://wllr.org.uk/events/steam-ga...dXuWNLMSvwraqoITYQ_aem_OhqFuonOM9hwdi7rLUHa6g

Not the easiest things to read.

 

Premier has at least been allowed to steam round Llanfair station.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1793207988665010/?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&fs=e&fs=e

 

A 32 page brochure, containing two lists of locos not running, but no mention of the ones which are?

 

It's a shame they've gone with that timetable given the recent rain they've had in the area. The website says diesels will work between Cyfronydd and Welshpool so will swap trains at Cyfronydd and lead between there and Welshpool and return.

 

"STEAM & DIESEL GALA 4-6th September: Trains Steam hauled between Llanfair & Cyfronydd. Trains double-headed Steam & Diesel between Cyfronydd & Welshpool. See Events Page for Timetable Details."

Friday evening's final service is showing double headed steam from Llanfair to Welshpool and back again though.

 

That service is down as only 2 Zillertal coaches so must be a 'they won't need to work hard' decision.

 

Just looking at Welshpool and Llanfair weather, using Met check, looks like rain tomorrow and likely Thursday. With rain pushing up from South and West Wales tonight.

I've just been studying the W&L gala plan, noting diesel and steam double-headed on the majority of the route - perhaps too much to hope diesel assistance will be rescinded in the wake of further rain in the next 48 hours.

 

Hopefully they change their mind in the days leading up to the gala. Interesting to note that a steam roller roaded from Shrewsbury to Llanfair yesterday without starting any fires en route, including the climb up Golfa.

 

It is quite disappointing really the way it’s been done. From an enthusiast point of view it offers very little for the price. Appreciate it’s very much an exceptional year, but even so.

 

Why not just go and support the railway anyway? If folk stay away because it's not what they want then there may not be a Gala next year to specualte and moan about. I expect to be shot down in flames, but the whole heritage world is on a knife edge - use it or lose it - really. I wish I could go this weekend, the draw of the BOwaters 4 is massive, but I need to have a weekend with family, otherwise there might not be a family to support me...and yes, I'd go regardless of the timetable...

 

Four locos in steam, one of which has been brought in from the other side of the country, and an unlimited Day Rover for Friday and Sunday is £30, Saturday (when there are 10 hours of trains) is £35. Also includes entry to the Garden Railway Show.

Fair enough if you are not tempted by what’s on offer, the fire risk can’t be helped, and has negatively affected operations all summer. The price on the other hand seems entirely reasonable.

 

The value for locos is very good just the detail on the website and way its portrayed don’t seem to make sense. Yesterdays update says steam only between Llanfair and Cyf but timetable shows founleheading throughout.

I love the WLLR and go to the galas often. Just can’t be tempted when the info and offering is unclear.

 

Mr Fuller and the Llanfair all-stars as they set off...

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A further three rollers and a steam tractor were also heading down the main road towards Welshpool, however they all turned off at Halfway House with the two rollers of Messrs Dibnah and Black ending up at Bishop's Castle ready for the Michaelmas Fair this Saturday. The other two ended the day back at their respective home yards elsewhere.

One of the friendly things to remind people who comment about the severity of the climb of the railway out of Welshpool is how when you drive a road steamer up Golfa, you start at the same place but end up looking down on the railway from the top

 

Well, it has rained here (10 miles from Welshpool ) all day, so there must be some hope that the fire risk for the weekend will be suspended. Further to Ian's post upthread concerning the transit of the Rollers, yesterday two of them rolled into my village, en-route to Bishops Castle and took on water from one of the local hydrants. Now on their journey to their destination, they actually passed thro' a part of Wales and would have been about 7 miles from Welshpool at Chirbury, echoing Jamesd's post, no fires reported, plus noting the "spark arrestor" on the Fowler's chimney. It is still raining here as I type this post.






Cheerz,

Alan

 

Ah - that's where you live is it?!
That's the route I use daily for work, I'll send a virtual wave as I pass through in future!

The tractor would have been chasing their tails a short while behind, but had problems at Westbury and had to detour.
This was Joe with the DNA leaving Marton:

​

I'd been busy with the 'third' roller (which is based about 5 miles from yourself), then assisting the tractor with their issues before finally doing a large detour home to see where the others had got to. I'm afraid they won't be roading back in the other direction. After Saturday they're pramming up for Malpas the weekend after.

To keep vaguely railway related, Locomotive Services would have been a bit short staffed yesterday as their 'road steam department' were busy heading north from Shrewsbury with a Wallis Agricultural, Foden wagon, Fowler roller and Ruston tractor. Meanwhile a further seven engines roaded out under their own steam heading in various directions and distances.

[edit: ...and I can confirm all owners a lot more relaxed about the conditions than when they'd been arriving last week before the rain of the weekend!]